One would think that a ring
with the power to heal wounds just by wearing it would be a fantastic boon to
anyone, regardless of profession. When the eccentric mage
Jamliso created such a ring in 970 a.S., he
was sure to be the talk of the land for decades to come. However, according to
some scholars, Jamliso's ring carried an
additional property that cursed the mind of the wearer as it also healed
physical wounds (either on the bearer or someone else).
Nehtorian lore holds that the curse
presents itself only to those who don't know how to properly channel the faith
of Nehtor, and believe in his divine
strength to heal. In other words, say priests of the healing god, the curse
strikes unbelievers while healing the faithful. Unfortunately, the question of
the ring's curse cannot be solved in present times since the ring hasn't been
seen in Sarvonia in well over 200 years.

Appearance.
The ring's appearance has been described as being a simple shape, albeit
inscribed with intricate spiral designs along the outside edge. According to
Jamliso's
journal, the ring was forged by the dwarven master craftsman Demtak in 970 a.S.
Jamliso
claimed the ring was made of a carefully forged mix of silver and mithral that
produced a highly polished sheen.
Nehtorian
lore indicates that upon the inner surface of the ring is written the name of
the healing god in delicate Styrįsh
lettering. It is unlikely that
Jamliso
ordered Nehtor's name inscribed, as some
sages say that there is no evidence that the mage was a faithful follower of the
Twelvern. More likely, sages believe, is that once the
Nehtorians
came into possession of the ring, they had
Nehtor's name inscribed in
Styrįsh, believing the ring was a gift from the god himself. The ring is
also said to magically size itself to fit the
finger of the wearer.

Pages from
Jamliso's
own journal describe the ring. This old tome is quite thick and in considerably
good condition. It has been kept in the XimaxianMagical Academy's library for many years
after having been purchased from one of
Jamliso's
descendants in 1306 a.S. The ring is described in the magi's own words:

"The dwarven
craftsman's skills are as impressive as ever. The old codger, whom I have
known as a friend for many years, is possessed of a keen eye for detail.
As I watched, the liquid mithril that boiled in the cup sparkled in the
forge fire's light. Demtak carefully
poured the contents into a mold and wiped away the excess dribble. Within
moments, the mithril solidified and with bated breath, I watched the
dwarf turn the mold over as the ring
slipped carefully out. I took hold of the circlet with my thumb and
forefinger and held it close to my eyes. For several moments, all I could
do was behold this creation, an empty band, like a shell destined for an
illustrious future."

Image description. The Ring of Jamliso as imagined by an artist
bearing the inscription "Healer God" according to Nehtorian accounts. Picture by
Seeker.

Usage.
It is unclear exactly how the ring channels its healing power. Three theories
have emerged over the centuries as to how the ring's power can be channeled.
First,
Jamliso's
writings never put forth any solid knowledge of how the ring works. Sages say he
created the ring by accident and the powers the circlet held were unstable (more
lore is given below). The only explanation
Jamliso
gives in his journals is that the healing "just happens". It is interesting to
note that while Jamliso's writings are erratic with barely any semblance of
organization, his journals take an even further decline in understanding after
the ring is made. Scholars attribute this to the ring's curse of causing the
mind to become unstable over time.

The second theory comes from the
Nehtorians.
Their lore holds that a Whitecoat named Jaissa was the first one recorded to
have used the ring after the
Nehtorians
came into possession of it in 980 a.S. The group came to call the ring "Nehtor's
Eye" after the god of healing. She led a band of eight humans who roamed the
Ximaxian province offering healing and
guidance to those who needed it. Her writings were many, and were bound in a
book called "The Renewing Soul". This tome is still studied and used in some
Nehtorian
circles.

"When Nehtor's Eye is worn, the wisdom of
the Dancer is gifted upon the bearer. The hand with the ring only need touch the
wounded and suffering to bestow the renewing power. Physical wounds are bound
closed, the free flow of blood ceases and broken bones reaffirm again. Often,
the process may take some minutes while the body heals itself. The bearers'
hands must touch all of the wounds to give the ring's power unfettered access.
Once done, the suffering begins to end."

The tome "The Renewing Soul" goes on to say that it is faith in the Dancer that
enables the ring's power, and that only powerful clerics of
Nehtor can wield it. A prayer and faith is
all it takes to mend wounds and bones. Interestingly, the supposed curse of the
ring is never mentioned by the Nehtorians,
and Jaissa went on to live to a ripe old age, having died as one of the most
respected members of the Dancer's clergy to this day. The ring went on to become
a symbol of Whitecoat authority, to be worn by leaders and clerics of the sect
as a status symbol and healing tool.

The third theory of the ring's power comes from scholars in
Ximaxian circles. They noted that while
Jamliso
was not a recognized Ximaxian student, he was
a "Gifted", or a mage with powerful knowledge
of magic, albeit undisciplined. They believe
that this instability of
Jamliso's
mind along with an accidental healing spell was imbued in the ring. Using the
ring required a strong will and extreme focus in order to fight the curse. A
feeble, undisciplined soul could easily be overcome by the ring's power and
succumb to its devastating affects. Although detailed
Ximaxian theories exist as to the nature of
the curse, it is beyond the scope of this article to go into each one.

Myth/Lore.
Enchanting trinkets is not an uncommon skill among powerful magi. A mithral and
silver ring likely cost no small amount of coin to forge, especially when
commissioned to the famed dwarven smith
Demlak. The period during which the ring was forged was known as Demtak's most
creatively inspired age in which he created many wondrous artifacts,
weapons and tools (most of which are now
lost). Whether Jamliso and Demtak were
acquaintances or perhaps the dwarf owed the mage a favour, is not clear. Some
sages have said that the Jamliso was a dwarf himself and the two were clan
brothers. Their relationship was never clear, but their creation was certainly
one of a kind.

Jamliso's living descendants are few, but
one of them was found living in the city of
Carmalad in the Enthronian province. He spoke of his famous ancestor in this
way:

"This ring has drawn interest almost from the day it was made.
The reason for this interest is the simple fact that the mage
Jamliso kept this ring out of all the
enchanted items he crafted. That he kept this ring should not have brought
much attention as most mages have some kind of enchanted item, if not
several. What probably heightened interest may have been due to the fact
he never sold a single enchanted item out of several hundred varying kinds
he is purported to have crafted, simply giving them away, except this
ring.

It was known Jamliso could use
powerful binding magic but then he would use minor enchantments to bind to
an object. There were many who said he could not combine the two and only
achieved this feat with this ring of healing. Others say he chose not to
combine the two preferring the minor enchantments and this ring was no
different. Whichever the case, he was certainly killed by someone wishing
to possess this ring. Over the years it has occasionally surfaced when
someone claimed they had the ring or rumours stated a certain person owned
it. In each case the supposed owner was soon found dead and no ring could
be found among their possessions. This has caused many to say the ring is
cursed. They believe Jamliso, upon his dying breath, cursed this ring and
any who would wear it. Others say it is only the greed of man that causes
these deaths. In any case the mystery surrounding the ring may never be
unraveled until or if it comes into the possession of another mage."

Jamliso's
descendants go on to recount stories of the magi's reputed clumsiness and
eccentric behaviour. Although it is said he was a "Gifted"
mage, he was also unstable in mind, and perhaps this enabled him to create such
fascinating items. His journals are detailed, but with disorganized notes and
haphazard logic. In some of his notes, Jamliso
recounts many instances of wounds and bruises he suffered while working in his
lab. One such instance is a fire that burned down Jamliso's house and some of
the surrounding forest. Jamliso blamed this
accident on himself when he admitted that he left a delicate experiment
smoldering in a mixture bowl and during a late night quest for a snack, he
stumbled into the experiment thus creating a disaster that resulted in the
fire. Such accidents commonly followed
Jamliso, nevertheless, most sages agree that
his cursed ring was a wondrous accidental creation that yearns to be found and
studied further.